Restoring your face to its natural, youthful state occasionally requires a surgical touch. While Botox® and dermal fillers are fantastic treatments for addressing wrinkles, a surgical facelift takes years off your face. Read on to explore the do’s and don’ts of facelift recovery!
Below, the team at Cascade Facial Surgery & Aesthetics breaks down the most important do’s and don’ts of facelift recovery.
#1: Do Expect Discomfort and Plan Accordingly
A facelift is a serious medical procedure that will result in some discomfort. Your surgeon will provide you with appropriate postoperative guidelines, but expect swelling, bruising and mild to moderate pain.
Head home to rest as soon as your surgeon allows it. Have a family member or friend stay with you for the first 24-48 hours — you may need their help. Keep your head elevated to reduce swelling and follow your postoperative instructions (including medication) to the letter.
Follow your doctor’s guidelines regarding pain medication and do not change or modify your dose without his or her approval.
#2: Don’t Exercise or Apply Makeup
Avoid any sort of strenuous physical activity until you receive permission from your doctor. Most patients can resume vigorous physical activity four to six weeks after their operation. Engaging in vigorous physical activity can cause swelling and discomfort, or even dislodge your stitches.
Makeup is best avoided until your doctor gives you the green light. Introducing foreign matter onto the skin during this period is potentially problematic — even the physical pressure necessary to apply makeup may irritate the skin.
#3: Do Rest, Rest and Rest Some More
Facelift is not a simple cosmetic procedure. A facelift is a serious surgery that necessitates plenty of recovery time. Take at least one to two weeks off work in order for the swelling and bruising to subside. The more you rest, the faster you’ll recover.
That said, do your best to maintain a regular sleep schedule. It’s all too common for postoperative patients to lose track of their regular sleeping hours. Not only do normal sleeping hours keep your friends and loved ones around, but you’ll bounce back to your regular schedule much easier.
#4: Don’t Smoke or Consume Alcohol
Your surgeon will likely have you stop smoking several weeks before your surgery. Smoking restricts blood flow to the skin and hampers the healing of damaged tissue. In order to recover as quickly as possible, your skin needs your help — that means no smoking!
You’ll also want to avoid alcohol. Alcohol may restrict blood clotting, which in turn may lead to bleeding (and a slower recovery). Alcohol may also interfere with the drugs prescribed to you by your doctor.
#5: Do Eat and Drink Regularly
It’s quite common for surgical patients to experience a decrease in appetite. Do your best to maintain a healthy, well-rounded diet with plenty of fluids. You’ll recover faster and feel better doing it!
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Interested in learning more about facelifts? Please contact the team at Cascade Facial Surgery & Aesthetics to learn more about our services.
